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The Second Grand National Archery Meeting was held on June 25 and 26, 1845, at the same place.
Eleven ladies shot 96 arrows, all at 60 yards.
One hundred and ten gentlemen shot at this meeting, and the York Round, as before described, was shot on each day and at all the following meetings.
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The Third Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 29 and 30, 1846, at the same place.
Eighty-three gentlemen shot at this meeting, but no ladies appeared.
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The Fourth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 28 and 29, 1847, at Derby.
The ladies, who numbered only six, again shot—at 60 yards only—the same number of arrows as in 1845, namely, 96.
Fifty-eight gentlemen shot at this meeting, and on the following day—July 30—half a York Round was shot for a bow (Buchanan's) and two other prizes.
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The Fifth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 19 and 20, 1848, at the same place.
Only five ladies shot, and they shot 72 arrows at 60 yards, and 72 at 50 yards.
Seventy-four gentlemen shot at this meeting. Horace A. Ford here made his first public appearance, scoring—
He stood fifteenth in the list.
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The Sixth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 18 and 19, 1849—again at Derby.
Eight ladies attended this meeting, and theNational Round(96 arrows at 60 yards, and 48 arrows at 50 yards), equally divided between the two days, was shot now for the first time, and has been ever since shot by the ladies, except at the next meeting at Edinburgh.
Forty-six gentlemen shot at this meeting, and the Champion's medal was first awarded on this occasion, and won by Mr. H. A. Ford, who won most points9(5), Mr. Moore having won 4—namely, hits and score at 80 yards, and gross score—and Mr. Attwood won the points for score at 100 yards.
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The Seventh Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 24, 25, and 26, 1850, at Edinburgh, in Warrender Park.
Eight ladies shot at this meeting, and the round, which, owing to the condition of the weather, was all shot on the third day, consisted of 72 arrows at 60 yards, and 36 arrows at 50 yards.
Eighty-three gentlemen shot, and the Champion's medal was won by Mr. H. A. Ford, who made all the points.
At this meeting there was also some shooting at 200 yards, 180 yards, and at 100 feet, in addition to the usual double York Round.
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The Eighth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 25 and 26, 1851, on Wisden's Cricket-ground at Leamington. At this meeting thirty-three ladies shot the National Round.
Mr. H. A. Ford won all the points for the Champion medal except that for score at 80 yards, which was won by Mr. K. T. Heath.
Miss Villers's score showed a rapid stride in advance amongst the ladies, as she was more than 100 points ahead of the second lady, Miss Eaton—73 hits, 297 score—and the third, Mrs. Thursfield—75 hits, 293 score.
Ninety gentlemen shot at this meeting.
On the 27th a handicap sweepstake match was shot.
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The Ninth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 7 and 8, 1852, at the same place, in Leamington.
At this meeting thirty-six ladies and seventy-eight gentlemen shot.
Mr. H. A. Ford won the Champion's medal with 6 points,Mr. Bramhall having won 2 points for hits and score at 100 yards, and Mr. J. Wilson 2 points for hits and score at 60 yards.
This match had a most exciting finale. When the last three arrows alone remained to be shot, Mr. Bramhall was 2 points ahead in score. It was then a simple question of nerve, and Mr. Ford's proved the best, as he scored 14 to his opponent's 2. The two gentlemen were placed at adjoining targets, and Mr. Bramhall's nerve was further disturbed by his hearing some one noisily offer to bet heavily in favour of Mr. Ford. Mr. Ford shot first at his target, and Mr. Bramhall second at his.
Mr. Ford's score on July 9, in the handicap match, amounted to 485.
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The Tenth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 6 and 7, 1853—again at Leamington.
The silver bracer for the Lady Championess, presented by the Norfolk Bowmen, was first competed for at this meeting,and won by Mrs. Horniblow, who won 6 of the 8 points, Miss M. Peel having secured the 2 points for hits and score at 50 yards.
Mr. Ford won all the Champion's points, and now first began to show his marked superiority.
Fifty ladies and eighty-two gentlemen shot.
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The Eleventh Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 5 and 6, 1854, on the racecourse at Shrewsbury.
Mrs. Davison won the silver bracer with 7 points, Mrs. Horniblow, who made a score of 325 on the handicap day, having secured the eighth point with the highest score at fifty yards.
Mr. Ford won all the points of the Champion's medal, and made a further stride in front of all other competitors, making over 1,000.
Sixty-six ladies and ninety-four gentlemen shot.
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The First Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held in the Jephson Gardens, on July 19 and 20, 1854.
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The Second Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held on June 20 and 21, 1855.
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The Twelfth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on August 1 and 2, 1855—again at Shrewsbury.
Mrs. Davison won 7 points, and again secured the silver bracer.
Miss Clay won 1 point for score at 60 yards.
Miss H. Chetwynd made 296 on the handicap day.
Mr. Ford won the Champion's medal, having won all the points except that there was a tie between him and Mr. Wilson for hits at 60 yards.
The weather was unfavourable at this meeting, which helps to account for the apparent falling off in the scores.
Fifty-five ladies and eighty-three gentlemen shot.
The series of eighteen articles, out of which this book was afterwards formed, began to appear in the 'Field' on October 6 in this year.